Specialist pharmacist consultations with cancer patients in a pharmacist-led anticancer clinic.

Abstract

Prescription-related errors and misinterpretation of oral cancer treatment instructions can lead to significant harm or fatal outcomes for patients. The impact of specialist pharmacist-led consultation for patients taking oral antineoplastic medicines (OAMs) across a range of cancer types in an Australian setting has not been studied. To evaluate the impact of specialist cancer pharmacist patient consultation in a pharmacist-led anticancer clinic across a range of cancer types and evaluate health service staff perceptions of these consultations. Retrospective data were collected from electronic patient medical records from 2017 to 2020 at a Western Australian quaternary hospital. The impacts of pharmacist clinical interventions were classified using a validated tool and specialist interdisciplinary panel consensus. An online staff survey was conducted using Qualtrics. Of 246 patients reviewed, 76 (30.8%, p<.001) had received a clinical intervention of which 48 (63.2%) were classified as high-extreme and 28 (36.8%) as low-moderate impact (p=.021). Patients on ≥5 concurrent medications or>65 years may represent high risk groups. Thirty-seven clinical staff were surveyed (37/55; 67.3%) and all strongly agreed/ agreed pharmacist consultation improved patient understanding and medication management confidence (p<.001). All cancer center staff (26/26) strongly agreed/agreed the clinic added value to the cancer service (p<.001), and 96.2% perceived it improved patient outcomes (p<.001). Specialist pharmacist-led patient consultation for patients on OAM regimens may protect patients from high and extreme risk of harm. Specialist interdisciplinary staff supported this service.